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Chris was born in Sidmouth and can be said to be a true

‘Sidmouthian’. He started playing trombone in 1986 after he

had found a battered old trombone in the music room cupboard

at School and his music teacher suggested he might like

lessons. A year after first finding ‘that’ trombone, then Bb bass

player, Keith Roberts (also Chris’ PE teacher!) ‘recruited’ him into

the Sidmouth Town Band.

Chris started his brass band career in 1987 under the baton of Andrew Nicholson playing on 2nd trombone. In 1988 under then conductor Andrew Letten, he moved to bass trombone and he remained there until he became the band’s principal trombone in 1991, a position he has held to date. With Sidmouth Town Band, Chris travelled to the National Fourth Section Brass Band Championship finals in 1988, 1990 and 2006.

Chris is self confessed as being a ‘little old fashioned’ and is particularly keen to see that everything is done ‘by the book’. His diplomatic skills have often proved to be very useful – especially with the often over zealous brass band contest official! Chris has in the past been the Band

Secretary, and in 2007 was elected to become the Band’s

Chairman.

Outside of the band, Chris has acted and sung in local musical

and stage productions. He now plays regularly in pit orchestras

for musicals and shows throughout the area as well as playing

with other groups. With what little spare time he has, he is a

keen fisherman and loves the sun, sea and beaches…

particularly in Greece. Chris is employed as an Officer of East

Devon District Council.

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I joined the Sidmouth Town Band in 2005 following an

8 year absence from music (in fact many band members,

especially the horns, will state that that absence is

continuing!!). I spent the first five years on second trombone

before being “promoted” to bass trombone in 2011. I have

enjoyed my time with the band and I feel that I have become

a more rounded player as a result.

As well as my role in the trombone section, I am also the band’s contest secretary, and enjoy teaching trombone to the beginners in the training band. To me, Sidmouth Town Band is not just about the music, it’s about the band “family” and support network. I have made a number of great friends over the first six years of banding, and am proud to be part of such a successful and friendly organisation.

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I was born in 1961 in a Devon long house on the

outskirts of Dartmoor. I started to learn the trombone

at the age of 12, being taught by a peripatetic teacher

visiting the school and my father. The first solo I ever

played in public was ‘What shall we do with the

drunken sailor’. I’ve never been a sailor but am still working

on the drunken bit!

Soon after this I was invited to join the Newton Abbot Town Band which was a very traditional, old style band. The band later changed its name to Teignbridge Silver Band and created a new brighter image which attracted some younger players. At this point I switched on to Euphonium and remained there as principal euphonium until I was 18 years old. I then quit banding to concentrate on girls and motorbikes!

I returned to banding at the age of 23 when I was asked by an ex conductor to come and play 2nd euphonium for Lympstone Band (can I say that on here?). I was only there for about a year when I moved to Totnes band on 1st baritone, then trombone. I had been a member of Totnes for 25 years having only missed one summer season and some time off when our son Adam was born. During that time I contested on 1st trombone, bass trombone (badly) 1st baritone and Eb bass simply to cover empty seats to make the team work.

My wife Karen (see the horn section) and I joined Sidmouth Band in June 2011 and we are having a ball. This is a great band with a great team spirit and is the friendliest band that we have ever played in. Long may it all last. I also recently joined a local 8 piece Rock Band called ‘Men behaving badly’ Am I too old for this? Probably but it’s a great buzz. Unlike the brass band where we play and then drink, with the Rock band we drink, play, and then drink again. It’s all good practice!